Ardal North West – first win for Rhostyllen, Taylor seals a vital Rhyl victory, Denbigh and Llanrwst triumph

ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORTS – SATURDAY, APRIL 1

CPD Nantlle Vale 1 (Ashley Owen 56)
CPD Rhyl 1879 2 (Alex Jones 47, Jonny Taylor 90 + 2 pen)

Report: Shôn Hughes

Jonny Taylor again proved he is the man for the late goal and the big occasion as his added time penalty clinched another priceless three points for Rhyl 1879 in their title quest.

With three fixtures left, the Lilywhites hold a nine-point lead at the Ardal North West summit, although the other two teams in championship contention, Bangor 1876 and Denbigh Town, both have games in hand.

After Saturday’s matches, the situation stood (each team plays 26 games):
CPD Y Rhyl 1879: Played 23 Points 59 (GD +37)
Bangor 1876: Played 21 Points 50 (+40)
Denbigh Town: Played 19 Points 49 (+52)

The return match between Bangor 1876 and Rhyl at Nantporth Stadium this Saturday (kick-off 12.30 pm – all-ticket) could end up having a huge bearing on the title battle.

Saturday’s 2-1 success at Nantlle Vale was 1879’s ninth league win in a row and 13th game without defeat in Ardal North West.

It was a relatively cagey first half with few chances to note, but the hosts looked the more dangerous and would have felt unfortunate not to be ahead at the break.

Two minutes into the second half Rhyl made the breakthrough, Alex Jones running at the defence before applying a lovely finish.

Nine minutes later Nantlle bundled home the equaliser via Ashley Fon Owen.

A draw looked a certainty until two minutes into stoppage time stand-in captain James Jones was felled in the penalty area with referee Andrew Dukes pointing straight to the spot.

Experienced forward Jonny Taylor, who came as on a late substitute, made no mistake from the spot despite home keeper Owain Roberts getting a hand to the ball and pushing it high into the net.

There was an additional seven minutes of stoppage time for the Lilywhites to contend with, but the final whistle was eventually blown leading to jubilant celebrations from Gareth Thomas and his side.

Llandudno Albion 2 Rhostyllen 7

What a way to earn your first league win of the season!

After 20 matches without a victory, bottom side Rhostyllen were two down at Treborth, but produced an amazing comeback to break their duck with a seven-goal salvo.

Dan Evans netted twice in the first eight minutes to put Albion into what seemed a very comfortable position.

However, by half time, Rhostyllen were in front courtesy of goals from Tom Douglas, Lee McBurney and Tomos Williams.

After the break, the visitors pressed home their advantage, Cavan Daley, Sam Chesters, a Jordan Kane own goal and Taylor Williams sealing a stunning scoreline

Llanrwst United 4 Hawarden Rangers 3

Callum Parry, Sam Thomas, Leon Doran and Dion Lloyd’s crucial 90th minute strike booked a win in this seven-goal thriller for Llanrwst.

The hosts were 3-0 up at half time and seemingly coasting, only for Noah Sumner and Tom Gunson to bring it back to 3-2 with 88 minutes on the clock.

Lloyd then hit Llanrwst’s fourth before James Ratcliffe cut the arrears again seven minutes into added time.

Chris Nicolson was sent off for United four minutes over the 90 for a second yellow.

Y Felinheli 2 Denbigh Town 6

Report: Iwan Jones

A superb Nathan Brown hat-trick, a striker’s brace from Matthew Worrall and a Paul Fleming header ensured Denbigh came home with three points from Cae Seilo.

The win keeps Town third in the Lock Stock Ardal North West League, 10 points behind leaders CPD Y Rhyl 1879 with four games in hand.

Twelve months ago at Felinheli, Denbigh’s then title hopes took a severe dent after the hosts equalised deep into injury time to force a draw.

There was no chance of that on this occasion as Denbigh went two goals up after six minutes and put on a first half display of controlled possession and great football on an uneven wet pitch that had warranted an inspection earlier in the day.

Town took a second-minute lead when Worrall laid a perfect ball into the path of Brown who let fly from 20 yards giving Felinheli keeper Guto Hughes no chance.

Worrall was on the scoresheet himself after six minutes with a powerful curling effort after captain Paul Fleming passed the ball through to the striker.

With 21 minutes played, full back Ben Lockley’s throw-in saw the ball make its way across goal to Brown on the edge of the box and he hit an inch-perfect half-volley into the left hand corner of the net.

By 26 minutes it was 4-0, Brown sending a deep cross to the far post for Fleming to ghost in and head home.

Inevitably Denbigh’s concentration levels dropped with such a comfortable lead, and Felinheli pulled one back through Iwan Owen.

Denbigh’s fifth came after 39 minutes and it came from a cross from Ben Lockley to the far post where Worrall stretched out and volleyed home from eight yards.

Nine minutes into the second half, Felinheli’s Osian Pritchard’s free kick found Gruff John, who fired past an unsighted keeper Aaron Jones to make it 5-2.

It was not until the 88th minute that Denbigh got their sixth and it was apt that Brown nabbed his hat-trick with this goal after his first class performance.

Billy Holmes and Craig Rogers combined to set up Brown, who took aim from the edge of the penalty area to fire home for his third.

• This Saturday the focus turns to the Lock Stock Ardal League Cup semi-final as Denbigh take on Builth Wells with a 2.30 pm kick off at Central Park.